[Advaita-l] Narayanaya in Advaita

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste Sri Chandramouli

In Advaita we can see two types of thinking about Narayana. Sometimes
Narayana is treated equal to Nirguna Brahma. Sometimes Narayana is Vishnu
God. We should worship him with his Shankha Chakra and other things. Adi
Sankara has used these two types of concepts.

In Mathematics we use limits to say limit of sin(x) by x as x tends to Zero
is 1. It means when x becomes smaller and smaller the ratio of sin(x) and x
is closer and closer to 1. Similarly, we can think like this about God.
Narayana with attributes like Shankha and Chakra tends to Nirguna Brahma
when we become more and more advanced in Advaita practice. When we are not
advanced he will be God with attributes but when we become very advanced He
is Nirguna Brahma only.

The Gita also has said '*Yo Yo Yam Yam* Tanum Bhaktaha Sraddhayarcitum
Icchati Tasya Tasyacalam Sraddham Tam Eva Vidadhamy Aham'. If we want to
worship God in one particular form he will appear in that form only. When
we become advanced in Advaita we will think He is Formless. Then He will be
Formless. He will be Nirguna Brahma.

There are also some Jnani's who like to see the Saguna Brahman again after
Brahma Jnana. The Astronaut goes into space and there he can see Sun is not
rising and setting. But when he comes to earth and he will again enjoy the
Sunrise and Sunset very much with his family. Similarly, some Jnanis will
offer bhakti to Saguna Brahma like before Jnana. Because they get pleasure
in it.

On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 7:33 PM, H S Chandramouli
<hschandramouli at gmail.com>wrote:

> HS Chandramouli
>
> So many shruti vakyas have been cited in this thread to highlight the
> advaitic concept of Narayana. However there are so many references in our
> shastras , shruti/purana etc , to Narayana with a definite form, endowed
> with ayudhas/ornaments etc , and involved in so many activities . Many of
> my advaita friends have always had a doubt on advaita's stand regarding the
> reality status of this Narayana vis a vis rest of the creation. This has
> been eulogized so much that while they have no difficulty in accepting the
> mithyatvam of rest of the creation ( mostly interpreted as unreal/false )
> same is not so with regard to this Narayana. Sri Ramanujacharya cites the
> Narayanasukta which according to him refers to this Narayana as the only
> authoritative shruti to identify the Highest Truth ( supported by Sri
> Vishnumaha Purana ) . Ofcourse in most of their discourses the dvaitins do
> not forget to mention that advaita does not  accept the reality of even
> such a Narayana !!!!!!!! Perhaps there is a need to answer the question
> with specific reference to this Narayana. I have tried to answer them as
> follows.
>
> << Narayana as distinct from/different from/ separate from / independant of
> I the Consciouness is Mithya.
>
>      Narayana as same as / nondifferent from / nondistinct from / identical
> with I the Consciouness is Sathya  >>
>
> May be better ways are available to answer the question.
>
> Regards
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 6:09 PM, Venkatesh Murthy <vmurthy36 at gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > Namaste
> >
> > The Narayana name is very holy because Mahabharata and Bhagavata say -
> > Naaraayanam Namaskrutya Naram Chaiva NarOttamam. In Bhagavata the story
> of
> > Ajamila is given. He was a great sinner. But he called his son's name
> > Narayana at the time of death when Yama Dootas were pulling him but God
> > Narayana protected him.
> > The Naaraayana Ashtakshari Mantra is compulsory for Vaishnavas. When they
> > do the Purusha Sukta homa also they say every line from Pursha Sukta and
> > then Om Namo Naaraayanaaya Swaahaa" after each line. It gives a good
> effect
> > for Purusha Sukta Homa.
> >
> > In Advaita Naaraayana is Brahman only. Narayana Upanishad is saying
> > 'Naaraayana Evedagm Sarvam Yadbhutam Yacca Bhavyam. Nishkalo Niranjano
> > Nirvikalpo Niraakhyaataha Shuddho Deva Eko Naaraayanaha. Na Dviteeyo Asti
> > Kashchit. Ya Evam Veda. Sa Vishnureva Bhavati. Sa Vishnureva Bhavati.
> > Everything in past, present and future is Naraayaana only. He who knows
> > this becomes Vishnu. He becomes Vishnu. The Naaraayana Ashtakshara is
> given
> > next by the Upanishad.
> >
> > Complete text of Upanishad.
> > http://www.sathyasaiottawa.org/pdf/Vedam/Narayana_Upanishad.pdf
> >
> > Namo Naaraayanaaya. Namo Venkateshaaya.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Regards
> >
> > -Venkatesh
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-- 
Regards

-Venkatesh